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| Parent Education General purposes of Parent Education
To provide information on all areas of child development, to help parents use positive discipline and guidance techniques, to increase parent-child communication, to teach parents how to work with groups of preschool children, to promote awareness of individual differences and needs, to offer parents greater self-awareness, to help parents develop a parenting style congruent with their values and the individual needs of their children, to develop positive family relationships, to increase awareness of professional and community resources. What is a parent education and participation preschool?
A parent education and participation, or cooperative, preschool school is a nonprofit, organization where each family shares in the planning and operation of the school. Parents participate in the program once a week on their assigned day, serving as assistants to a professional preschool teacher and staff. The adults attend weekly parenting classes and observe the children in the preschool. The efforts of parents and their direct involvement during the school day make parent participation preschools a unique educational endeavor and provide an essential support group for growing families.
How do parent participation preschools benefit the child, the parents, and the community?
The child gains the ability to relate to and communicate with other children, as well as adults. The child experiences a variety of play equipment, expressive materials, and media, resulting in a positive attitude towards learning. The child also gains self-esteem.
The parents gain an opportunity to learn and develop with their child as well as an increased awareness of the role of education in developing an effective and satisfying family life.
The community gains children who are learning respect for others, and families with a sense of community responsibility.
What is the history of the parent participation movement?
In 1915, faculty wives at the University of Chicago started the first parent participation nursery school. They wanted to provide a social experience for their children and parent education for themselves. The first parent participation nursery school in California was organized in 1929 in Berkeley and is still in operation today. | |
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